House swap and beat the credit crunch

One of the oldest holiday exchange operators is Homelink, which was first established overseas some 50 years ago and has been in Australia for about half that time.

To participate in Homelink, you need to become a member. The cost is $250 a year for just an online presence and $300 if you also want to receive the books Homelink publishes of available properties.

For that fee, you not only get the opportunity to register your home on the Internet but have access to personalised service.

Lisa McKay, customer services representative at Homelink, says there are about 900 members in Australia and more than 12,000 worldwide so there are plenty of opportunities if you are willing to be flexible in where you go and when.

Another operator is Aussie House Swap (www.aussiehouseswap.com.au) which is only $65 a year while HomeforExchange.com charges US$59 ($90) for 12 months and is currently offering an extra six months' membership.

While Homelink is clearly dearer, it does offer help from people on the ground so if you have an issue while you are house swapping in the UK, for example, you can seek to solve the problem by talking with an official of the organisation.

Helen, a Homelink user for the past eight years, says she and her husband have never been disappointed with their choice of home swap.

"We have been to Germany, New Zealand, Los Angeles, the Netherlands, Essex in England and also in Australia. And we went to the island of Reunion, which we would never have visited without Homelink," she says.

While contracts are not obligatory, it probably makes sense to take one out so that you know what is expected of you and vice versa.

As McKay says in her experience she has never known of anybody going back to a contract and saying their exchange had failed to meet any of the clauses.

Your exchange may offer the opportunity to also car swap although you can leave your vehicle locked in the garage, if you choose.

The key to successful home swapping is flexibility. The more flexible you are in terms of dates and destination, the more likely you are to find a match.

House swaps are particularly popular with retirees according to both McKay at Homelink and Nick Fuad from Aussie House Swap.

The beauty of home swapping is that you get to experience life as a resident of a country rather than just the tourist experience.

In terms of insurance, you do not need to advise your insurance company of the home swap although you should check the terms of your car insurance if a car swap is involved for any extended period of time.

Home swapping may not be for everybody, but it certainly can save big dollars.

Movers tools:
Costs of moving house Choosing a removalist More tips